Torch supporting and adjusting apparatus



Aug. 25, 1942. J. l.. ANDERSON ETAL TORCH SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTINGAPPARATUS Filed Oct. 3l, 1941 lllll FIG. I

FIG.3

FIG.2

INVENTORS JAMES L. ANDERSON JOHN HWBEGEROW BY ,Z

' ATTORNE ll HHH Patented Aug. 25, 1942 Toncn sUPronTmG AND AnJUsTnGAPPARATUS James L Anderson, cluster, and .161m n. w. Begerow, Carlstadt,N. J., assixnors to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application october s1; 1941, serial No.411,226

7 claims.A (ci. 2te-23) lI'his invention relates to apparatus forsupporting a torch from a carriage and for adjusting the position of thetorch with respect to the carriage.

'I'he preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a rack bar that'extends transversely across a. self-propelled torch carriage andsupports a torch a short distance beyond the side of the carriage, thebar being adjustablein the direction of its length to change the spacingof the torch from the carriage. v

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved torch support ofthe kind used for connecting a torch with a. self-propelled torchcarriage, and for adjusting the position-of the torch with respect tothe carriage. The principal advantages of the invention are simplicitythat makes the structure inexpensive to manufacture, and convenience inuse, especially'in the adjustment of the friction for holding thesupport in set positions.

In accordance with one feature of the invention a torch holder isconnectedwith a carriage by a rod of generally circular cross-sectionextending through a bearing in a bracket that is securedto the carriage,and the rod has spaced recesses in one side forming rack teeth, and anovel key structure for preventing the rod from rotating in the bracket.Anotherfeature of the invention relates to the control of the frictionof the rod in its bearing by using the key as a brake shoe against therod.

CFI

'I'he -wheels II are driven from the motor I3 through reduction gearing,not shown, but well understood Ain the art.

A post I1 extends vertically upward from a pad I8 secured to the top ofthe carriage body. A bracket 20, best shown in Fig. 2, has a split clamp2| at one side. This clamp ts around f the post I1 and the oppositesides of theclamp are pulled together, to grip the post I'I, by a Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of Figs. 4 and 5 are sectionalviews, taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a carriage IIJ with traction wheels II at its forward endand one or more caster wheels I2 at its rearward end. There is a motorI3 in the carriage controlled by a centrifugal governor Il that can beadjusted by a knob I5 screw 22. A handle 23 extends through the head ofthe screw 22. This handle has enlarged ends, and its intermediateportion slides lengthwise in the head of the screw. Such a handle,commonly used on vises, provides a good leverage for turning theclamping screw, but requiresk very little clearance above the carriagebody.

A rod 25, of generally circular cross-section, extends through acylindrical'opening 26 in the bracket 20, and is slidable lengthwise inthis opening 26 as a bearing. 'Ihereareparallel re-- cesses 21 in theforward side of the rod 25 forming rack teeth. A pinion 28 has an axle29 journaled in the bracket 20 with the teeth of the pinion extendinginto the cylindrical opening 26 and meshing with the teeth of the rack.`A knob 30 pinned on the upper end of the axle 29 is used to turn thepinion and shift therod 25 length-l wise in the bracket 20. y

The rod 25 has a reduced cylindrical end portion at both ends so that a,torch holder clamp 32 can be connected to either end of the rod 25.'I'he split end of the clamp 32 that iits over the reduced end of therod 25 is drawn together by a clamping screw 33 (Fig. 1)", andanother'split end of the clamp 32 is drawn together by a clamping screw34 to grip a stud 35 extending at right angles to the axis of the rod25. f

The stud 35 is an integral partof a torch holder 36 in which a torch 31is held. The torchv 3l is vertically adjustable inthe torchholder 36wheel 38, well understood in the art.

` Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

The position o f the parts can, of course,xbe ref to change the speed atwhich the motor runs. 55

The torch holder 36 is an eccentric loadon the rod 25, that is, it tendsto rotate the rod 26 about its axis. A key 40 extends into a keyway 4Iin the rod '25 to prevent the rod from turning in the bracket 20, Thekeyway 4I runs lengthwise of the rod 25, and preferably forthe fulllength of the full diameter portion ofthe rod so as to permit amaximimkrange of adjustment of the rod 25 lengthwise in the bracket.

versed, the keyway being located 'in the bracket and the key connectedto the rod 25, but such a construction requires a longer key and doesnot lend itself as well to the friction adjustment feature of thisinvention.

'I'he key 40 rits freely intothe keyway Il and also fits freely into arecess 43 in the bearing surface of the opening 26. Studs 44 projectingfrom the back of the key 40 fit into openings in the' bracket andprevent displacement of the key 40 lengthwise of the rod 25. 'I'hebottom of the keyway 43 limits the displacement of the key toward theaxis of the rod 25, and the key is held against the bottom of the keywayby a screw I6 that threads through the back of the bracket 20. The screw46 is turned one way or the other to adjust the pressure of the keyagainst the bottom of the keywanand that pressure determines the bearingpressure between the other side of the rod 25 and the side of theopening 28. In a sense, the key 40 is a brake shoe contacting with therod 25 to provide suilicient friction to hold the rod in any position towhich it is adjusted by means of the knob 30.

Changes and modications can be made in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, and some features can be used without others. Terms oforientation are, of course, relative.

We claim:

l. A torch cutting or welding machine including a carriage for moving atorch along a given course, a bracket connectedwith the carriage andadjustable on the carriage about a substantially vertical axis, saidbracket having a cylindrical opening with -a horizontally-extendingaxis, a shaft journaled in the bracket, a manually-actuated knob forturning the shaft, a pinion secured to the shaft in such position thatteeth of the pinion extend into the cylindrical opening through thebracket,l a rod of circular cross-section extending through thecylindrical opening and movable in said opening as a bearp ing, the rodhaving parallel, spaced recesses in '.jections extending from the keyinto the bracket transyersely of the axis of the rod for preventingdisplacement of the key lengthwise of, the

rod,'and a screw threading through a part of the bracketinto contactwith the side of the key away-from the rod for holding the key againstthe bottom of the keyway to control the friction between the roti andykey.

P 2. A torchsupport comprising a Ibracket for connection with a cuttingor welding machine, a rod rof circular cross-section that slides in anopening through the bracket as a bearing, and means for preventingtherod from turning and for controlling its friction in the bearing,said y 4means including a key that ts into a longitudinal keyway in therod, studs projecting from the key-transversely of the rod andVextending into openings inthe bracket for preventing displace merit-ofthe key lengthwise of the rod, said studs fitting freely into theopenings in the bracket -so that the key is movable transversely of the,rod, and' an element urging the key against the rod t0 provide acontrolled friction resisting longitudinal displacement of the rod inthe bracket.

3.`Apparatus for supporting a torch from a 70 torch carriage and foradjusting the position of the torch with respect to-the torch carriage.said apparatus including a bracket for connection with'the carriage, arodof circular cross-section 5 that slides in an opening in the bracketand to one-end of which a torch holder is connected, said rod havingparallel grooves in a portion of its cylindrical surface vforming teethof a rack, a pinion supported by the bracket and meshing 10 with therack, and a key and keyway extending 20 that slides in an opening in thebracket and to one end of which a torch holder is connected. said rodhaving parallel grooves in a portion of its cylindrical surface formingteeth of a rack, means for shifting the rod longitudinally in thebracket including a pinion journaled in the bracket and a knob forrotating 4the pinion,

means for preventing the rod from turning in the bracket and forcontrolling the friction of the bearing surface of the rod on thebearing surface in the bracket, said means including a key that extendsfrom one of said bearing surfaces and into a keyway in the other of saidbearing surfaces, the key and keyway both extending longitudinally ofthe rod, and a screw that threads through the bracket and urges surfacesof the keyway and 'key together to control the friction of the l'rod inthe bracket.

5. Torch supporting and adjusting apparatus including two relativelymovable elements, the

0 first for connection with a torch carriage and the second forconnection with a torch holder, said first element comprising a bracketand said second` element comprising a rod of circular cross-section thatslides in an opening through the bracket as a bearing, a key connectedwith one of said elements and extendinglongitudi- V nally of the rod andengaging a similarly 'extending keyway in the other of saidelernents"'for preventing the rod from .turning in the bracket,

and a device that urges surfaces of vthe key and.

keyway'together to createff'riction for resisting movement of the rod inthe bracket.'4

6. Apparatus for connecting a torch to a cutting or welding machine, abracket with a round opening that provides a bearing for a circular rod,a key at one side of the opening for enrunning lengthwise of the torcharm, a key on the torch-arm holder, and a screw controlling the frictionof the key in the keyway.

JAMES L. ANDERSON. JOHN H. W. BEGEROW.

